The Scot wrote:Brilliant story, thanks for the OP for picking this up. If I was running across America I'd have a GPS on each limb for data redundancy, and it'd be going up on Strava regularly as I went along. Imagine all that Kudos!

I'd ask people to make really slow segments in front of me so I could rack up all the CRs!

okrunner

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 11:40AM - in reply to CoachKev

Are you saying you think they confirm his previous performances? The results there are different to the one now used (3rd at world long champs) - and it seems hard to find any further details of any of those races.

Anyone had more luck finding historical age group world champs results?

derval

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 11:42AM - in reply to TroLLminator

1 2 3 green wrote:Robert Young is not the first to employ this strategy. We have seen runners using bikes, bikers using cars, drivers using planes, pilots using spaceships, etc. etc. Robert simply skipped a step and went from running to driving.

This thread is following a very similar pattern to the other cheat/fraud threads:

1. A cheater is exposed, and in the first 24 hours LR sleuths do intensive research and verify the cheating.2. Said cheater scrambles to lock down or alter social media due to extra scruitiny.3. The cheater starts posting defenses of the him/herself in 3rd person on the web. Mike Rossi tried this early in his thread, so did Kip Litton. The beach race director in San Diego (Ahole elites) tried it, although that was not actually cheating, per se.4. Cheater doubles down with denials and may threaten lawsuits: Rossi, Parveneh Moyedi, and this thread. Probably others.5. Momentum gathers on LR, spreads to other sites and news outlets, and the mockery and ridicule goes into high gear.

CoachKev, I'll bet you any amount of money you want to risk that you are either this Robert Young guy, or someone in his rv.

That's entertainment!

killingsometime

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 11:47AM - in reply to okrunner

I went out to to run a few miles with him since I thought he would be lonely running at 1:00 am in the middle of nowhere Kansas, and I thought it would be cool to be a part of something big like this. Below is my account of realizing this guy is faking it:

I wanted to run for a couple miles with the guy running across America, since I saw he was coming very near Lebo. I saw he was within 10 miles of Lebo, so I got in my car to find exactly how far away he was. I started driving west on old highway 50 from Lebo, and eventually passed an RV going east with an American flag on the back corner of the vehicle. I recognized that as the runner's RV, but I did not see anyone running. I thought the runner might have another support vehicle further back, so I kept driving. After a couple of miles, I checked his live tracking, and saw that the runner was indeed east of me. I took a screenshot of where the map said he was, then drove down the road. When I got close to the RV, I started filming, and still did not see a runner. They did not have hazard lights until I got somewhat close behind them. I decided to get out of my car at the next intersection to stand on the south side of the RV to get a better view. The next intersection was a main road, so I turned toward Lebo, and parked a block down the road. I ran back to old highway 50 and started going toward the RV. I didn't want them to stop before I got to them, so I ran up next to a house, and watched as the RV drove by with no runner in sight. I also took a screenshot of the map and took a video of the RV driving by. After it drove by, I ran into the highway, turned on my headlamp to strobe mode, and started running behind the RV. It was driving running speed, so I was making progress, but they saw my light and stopped. Someone got out of the passenger side of the RV, but when I got closer they got back in, and the RV drove off too fast for me to follow on foot. I ran back to my car, then drove to the highway. By that time, the RV had returned to the intersection of Fauna road and old highway 50. Someone was standing outside the RV, but I just drove past it heading east. I parked on the south side of the next intersection, and again, waited for the RV to pass. While waiting, I looked at the live tracking, and saw where the RV had driven away, and then come back, so I took a screenshot of that. I waited in my car for a few more minutes, and as the RV approached, I took another screenshot, and then another video* as the RV drove by once again without anyone running beside it.

*note: I turned my camera from vertical to horizontal around the two minute mark, so you have to turn your head 90 degrees to the left to see the RV driving by (or understand it is driving from bottom of the screen to the top).

I realize it is dark, so the videos don’t show a whole lot, but here are some points to consider.

1) The highway he was running on has no shoulder, so he likely would have been running in front of the RV in order to use its lights, and to keep safe from cars. Cars behind would see the RV and avoid it, while cars in front would see him in the headlights, as well as the RV. Rob does not appear in the headlights of any of my videos. If he did choose to run in the grass on the side of the road, I expect he would use a headlamp or flashlight, but again, there is no sign of a light other than those on the RV. The first video shows he was not running behind the RV, or in the oncoming traffic lane.

2) In my first video, you can also see the hazard lights of the RV turn on as I drive up from behind. It seems like support vehicles usually drive with their hazard lights on the whole time, but it makes sense that this group wouldn’t if they are trying to avoid drawing attention to themselves.

3) Also, see his recent blog post where Nancy Bennett attempted to run with him at night, and we unable to see him until the vehicle stopped (allowing him to exit the vehicle). It would be interesting to get her input on her experience compared to mine. The blog explains that Rob was just on the other side of the RV, but my multiple attempts allowed me to see all sides of the RV to ensure I did not just miss him on the other side (unless he is running circles around the RV).

I am convinced that Robert is not completing all of the distance on foot, and I understand my screenshots and videos cannot definitively prove it, but I think it at least warrants a very close inspection of his attempt if he is to be awarded recognition for this. Maybe other people have an experience and/or evidence that also indicates he is not running the whole distance.

A simple civil question.

Since supporters of Mr. Young are posting here and possibly members of the support team I ask- the actual team ---

Please tell us what happened during the time period Mr. Delmott references. A copy of your activity log and the supporting electronic data from the tracker would be a good start. Explaining why Mr. Young was not in Mr. Delmotts view will be a good first step.

Simply put give me (us) a convincing narrative of Mr. Youngs activity and location in reference to the tracking device during the time period in question.Also clarify if the published tracking data is for the support RV activity or Mr. Youngs actual activity.

Thank youTom Hyland

rojoco-founder

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 11:50AM - in reply to LRC to the Rescue.

I promise not to let this fester for months on end like I did with Mike Rossi. I will act on it quickly.

A few questions.

1) How far is this guy trying to run? How many miles in how many days? What pace does that average out to and why is that theoretically possible? I'm not familiar with multi-day races so give me some info like the credentials of the people who have held the record in the past.

2) What type of data is he posting?

3) Couldn't me and a buddy prove this in the span of 24-48 hours? Wh would it entail anything besides us getting a bike, throwing it in a car and riding next to these guy for 48 hours. My buddy is a school teacher and is free. Maybe we'd need a third person. One rides the bike, one drives the car and one sleeps.

4) How much time is left in this journey? I'd rather not have to drive out to middle America right now to prove this. Can I wait until NCAAs are over? Or are there any college kids near the route that want me to pay them to do it. It might be fun.

LRC to the Rescue. wrote:I think , LRC should buy him the all tech gear and offer him 100k if he starts over and is on record pace for 1/4 of the way across the country! We could network to run every step with him!

I think I should wait until the Rossi challenge ends before I make any offers.

Will Travel

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 12:00PM - in reply to rojo

I promise not to let this fester for months on end like I did with Mike Rossi. I will act on it quickly.

A few questions.

1) How far is this guy trying to run? How many miles in how many days? What pace does that average out to and why is that theoretically possible? I'm not familiar with multi-day races so give me some info like the credentials of the people who have held the record in the past.

2) What type of data is he posting?

3) Couldn't me and a buddy prove this in the span of 24-48 hours? Wh would it entail anything besides us getting a bike, throwing it in a car and riding next to these guy for 48 hours. My buddy is a school teacher and is free. Maybe we'd need a third person. One rides the bike, one drives the car and one sleeps.

4) How much time is left in this journey? I'd rather not have to drive out to middle America right now to prove this. Can I wait until NCAAs are over? Or are there any college kids near the route that want me to pay them to do it. It might be fun.

LRC to the Rescue. wrote:I think , LRC should buy him the all tech gear and offer him 100k if he starts over and is on record pace for 1/4 of the way across the country! We could network to run every step with him!

I think I should wait until the Rossi challenge ends before I make any offers.

ROJO - CHIMED IN!!! WOOT WOOT

OK - so I may be up for a road trip to see if this nozzle is really doing what he says he is doing. I am up for 50-100 miles on a bike to keep him company...I say bike because if he is TRULY running sub 7 min pace each day (or) night, that is faster than I can run right now. On a bike, I am good to go.

Anyone else up for a road trip?

Per his Run Time Table on the web site - I am thinking June 16, 17, 18 - but per his pace and current location, that may have to be moved up since it appears he is way ahead of schedule.

I think the Flash couldn't beat this guy in a race.....

Slept with the Serta Sleeper

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 12:02PM - in reply to rojo

There is a crowd-funded effort underway to have a team of very credentialed veteran ultrarunners (who both also write about the sport) shadow the guy for upwards of a week.

Re: your questions,

1. He is attempting to break a cross-continent record of approximately 46 days. His route must be (I believe) at least 2800 miles). It is theoretically possible for someone who is one of the best multiday runners in history to average ~70 miles/day for that long. It has been done very recently in the 3100-mile Self Transcendence race in NYC (a very well-monitored venue on a short-loop course). It has not been done often (not even close).

2. He is posting GPS positions at approx. 12-minute intervals from a tracker his team has said is being carried in his support RV.

3. Yes. See above. I think there is no need.

4. He is a little over halfway through. No hurry and, again, it is already covered.

CoachKevregistered

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 12:04PM - in reply to CoachKevlar

Some of us have to work and my job is not to continually post on this forum, I apologise for my lack of urgency in addressing the many issues.

here are some responses for many of you

Tracker is on the RV as explained earlier for people to find Rob, I'm not there so cannot comment if he could put it on his body or if there is even a tracker that could do this.

Hr watch is fine but batteries run out and chafing from a strap would drive you crazy after a few days. This will sound like an excuse to many of you but it's a reality. Anyone who has done a 100 miler will testify how even the smallest irritant can ruin your race and HR straps chafe like hell after a while with sweat etc getting worse on the body.

Watches are fine but you have the same issues with charging, accuracy and as far as I am aware there is no GPS watch that will continuously record for more than 12 hours with accuracy. Therefore Rob would have to have loads of watches and keep charging and swopping them. He may well be doing this and it is a question I will ask.

No matter what any of you say there are internet and wifi issues across the country like there are in many countries. Again this is a reality and not an excuse.

Rob won the race across America last year and I would have thought that would have been good enough for most of you to see his pedigree as it was in your back yard and not some tinpot race like we have in the UK.

Complete video coverage is practically impossible in my opinion as you would need a separate crew for this alone. I do know the majority of the run has been recorded on film, and I believe all of it on GPS but I will get full clarification on this later today. You also have the footage from your TV channels mentioned earlier.

I have no idea who Kev McE is and it's not me before you get that impression.

Rob is both an abused child and a gifted athlete.

My website which has some old articles on my run with Rob and other success and my DNF's are covered here but I haven't written for a while so please don't go mad at me for that as I have been busy coaching other runners to achieve their goals.

I will upload some videos of one of the run's I did with Rob when he ran 373 miles without sleep and it has some of the footage of my watch recording him doing sub 7 min pace. I will post here when I have worked out how to get this from my phone to youtube.

I have run numerous ultras in the UK and abroad up to 100 miles. I have two DNF's as well the TP100 which I dropped at mile 94 and the TDS where I dropped at the 90k point. The TDS is the rough mountain ultra that is part of UTMB in Chamonix. I returned and finished the CCC the year after. My fastest 100 mile is 24.08 and my fastest 5k is 21.09.

I am a former IM triathlete who got fed up with being ripped off and have 4 IM finished to my name. I started running in 2006 after 20 years of no exercise and was fat. I now teach others to not make the same mistakes as I did when it comes to running. I'm still fat as I drink too much wine.

This is not about me though and I am only giving you this information to satisfy those who have asked.

I am waiting for clarification from British Triathlon and will post when I have answers.

In the meantime I encourage you to run with Rob or get others to run with him once again.

I have no affiliation with him or his sponsors, I am just a runner who doesn't like to see awful things being written about someone who in my experience is genuine. I have run long distances with this man and I for one know that he is the real deal.

Maybe if you ran with him you would experience that too

Heavyd84registered

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 12:07PM - in reply to rojo

What I have been using was the KML data processed into distances between lat/lon points - which yields a lower distance and speed than actuality since it is not including all curves/turns in calculating the distances. So all the splits I posted are straightline best-case-scenario distances... the actual speed of travel would have to be a bit higher than the tracker points would indicate to account for curves/turns getting cut off in the tracker points.

Born in the 856registered

RE: Robert Young fakes run across America6/9/2016 12:15PM - in reply to CoachKev

CoachKev, I'm sorry but all that did was muddy the waters even further. You are saying that having multiple GPS watches to charge is a hassle, given that they are trying to set a world record? And all your account of him running the "375 miles with no sleep" shows is that you ran with him for 24 ish miles, and at one point you were running 7 minute pace. If you were going for a record like that, why would he not have someone record every step of it? Obvious stuff here. And we all know the answer.

Rob's first day of marathon running was quite a doozy. Below are his claims in his book.

Sunday, April 13, 2014 - Watched London Marathon. Enamored by the 40,000 runners behind the elites. Observed that £53 million was raised for charity. Made crazy 20p bet he could run 50 marathons. "I was just a 31-year-old office worker who hadn't run his first marathon yet." Briefly mentions that he had been a pro cyclist (no team or details mentioned), and later mentions he "was a triathlete for Great Britain." He claims he was decent at swimming and fast at biking and had to build a big lead "because my running was awful. I was slow: Mr Plod, Dr Dawdle." That day he researched online about marathon frequency records (Larry Macon's 157 and 239; Richard Abad 366).

Monday, April 14, 2014:3:30 AM - Alarm goes off and wakes up. Bikes 20 minutes over to Richmond Park.4:15 AM - Starts running 26.2 miles in Richmond Park. Claims to have finished in 4:07.8:30ish AM - Changed into his work clothes in the park before biking off to Richmond to catch the train to work. "I was tired and hungry, but still felt fresh. . . . I thought I might have to run quicker or get up earlier in [the] future as I was going to be late. . . ." ". . . In fact, I felt so happy about what I'd done that morning that I began to develop a new plan: maybe I should run another one after work? . . ."5:30ish PM - Left work and took the train back to Richmond. Biked to the park. Guzzled Lucozade and a can of Red Bull. Starts running a second marathon.9:00ish PM - Finished his second marathon of the day. Claims to have "finished in 3 hours 28 minutes - a personal best and still there was no 'wall' to climb over."11:00 PM - Arrives home.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014:3:30 AM - Alarm goes off and wakes up. Has a couple of small blisters on right foot. Legs felt tired, but that was the new normal.Ran another marathon in another personal best, 3:19.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014:Another marathon.

Thursday, April 17, 2014:Ran two marathons, before and after work.

Friday, April 18, 2014:Another marathon.

Saturday, April 19, 2014:Another marathon.

Sunday, April 20, 2014:Two more marathons.

So in summary, Rob claims to have become an instant marathoner. Not only does he claim to run his first three marathons ever all within a 30-hour period of time which included less than 4 hours sleep, but he got progressively FASTER as he did so: 4:07, 3:28, 3:19.Now for non-runners, this might not seem implausible. But for anyone remotely associated with running, this is not possible. Remember, this claim is more than running his first marathon on no training (something that is not really impossible), but repeating it TWICE and FASTER each time within 24 hours after completing his first.

Rob claims he was not a distance runner, and yet he ran 78 miles within 30 hours and got progressively faster, all on a whim without any training or any previous long-distance running experience.